Truck indexing mechanism



Junel, 1953 @,oFmT-r ETAL TRUCK INDEXING MECHANISM 6 sheet-sheet 1 FiledJan. 21. 1949 un Wk. Nh

ha@ Y m m R B. M M m n GEO WI June 16, 1953 G. QFFUTT ETAL 2,642,221

TRUCK INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 21, 1949 s sheets-sheet 2 GEORGEOFFU'rr WILLLAMILBMNER June 1e, 1953 @www1-L 2,642,221

TRUCK INDEXING' MECHANISM Filed Jan. 21, 1949 --6 Sheets-Sheet 5WILLIAMMBRINER www# June 16, 195s G. QFFUT-r Em 2,642,221

TRUCK INDEXIING MEGHANISM Filed Jan. 2 1. 1949 l 6 {Sheets-Sheet 4 47GEORG: OFFUTT L5@ wnunurixmmz www Patented June 16, 1953 TRUCK INDEXINGMECHANISM George Olfutt and William Ill., assignors to Owens a.corporation of Ohio M.v Briner, Streator,

-Illinois Glass Company,

Application January 21, 1949, Serial No. 71,801

9 Claims. l

Our invention relates to apparatus designed for use in loading trucksand provides means for automatically moving a truck intermittentlystepby-step during the loading operation.

The invention in the preferred form herein illustrated is particularlyadapted for use in connection with, and as forming a part of apparatusfor loading pieces of sheet material onto a truck, said apparatus beingdesigned to stack the material on the truck in a plurality of tiers orstacks which are built in succession on the truck and positioned side byside thereon.

An object of the invention is to provide power mechanism, automaticallycontrolled by the stacking apparatus, for positioning the truck toreceive the first stack of sheets and thereafter shifting the truck aseach stack is completed, into position to receive the next succeedingstack,

A furtherA object of the invention is to provide in combination with atruck, a motor having a stationary mounting, and means `for operativelyconnecting the truck to the motor and intermittently driving the motorfor periodically shifting the truck during the loadingoperation.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional side elevation of a portion of an apparatusembodying the present invention. A

Fig. 21s a similar view of the remaining or left-hand portion of theapparatus, comprising a horizontal conveyor; Figs. 1 and 2 togethershowing the entire apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a larger scale ofthe ram, its driving motor andassociated parts.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing a portion of the ram.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section at the line 1-1 on Fig. 4, showing the motorand ram. l

Fig; 8 is a fragmentary side elevationshowing certain of the limitswitches and other electrical control devices.

Fig. 9 is a section at the line 9-9 on Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan View of the latching head at the forward end of theram.

Figs. 11 and 12 are sections at the lines II-Il and |2-l2 respectivelyon Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view showing particularly one of the hookinglevers for coupling the ram head to the truck.

Fig. 14 is a wiring diagram of the electrical apparatus.

Vupper end of standards 39.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises, in general terms, ahorizontally disposedendless belt conveyor 2| to which pieces 22 ofsheet material are fed; an elevating conveyor 23; a truck 24 on whichthe material is loaded, the

sheets 22 as they are delivered from the conveyor 23, being stacked intiers or stacks 25;

hoisting mechanism for swinging the elevating' conveyor 23 upwardlyduring the formation of the stack, said hoisting mechanism including anis supported in hangers 3S adapted to swing about the axis of theconveyor roll 3l' thereby permitting the forward end of the conveyor 23to be lifted in an approximately straightvertical path during thestacking operation so that the workpieces 22 can be built into verticalstacks. The hoisting motor 26 and drum 21 having driving connectiontherewith through speed reduction gearing, are mounted on a platform 38on the A cable 4I wound on the drum 21 is connected to the frame of theconveyor 23 for lifting and lowering the conveyor. The conveyors 2i and23 may be driven by electric motors (not shown) which together with themotor 26 are automatically controlled for driving the conveyors andhoisting and lowering the elevating conveyor.

The conveyors, hoisting mechanism, their driving motors, and theautomatic controlling mechanism therefor'may be the same as disclosed inthe co-pending application of Wilske et al. for

Apparatus for Conveying and Stacking Box Blanks, Serial No. 47,774,filed September 4, 1948. The ram 29 for driving the truck is mountedldirectly beneath the elevating conveyor 23. The

ram as shown in cross-section (FigsQ7 and 9) is in the form of arectangular tube to which is bolted a bottom plate 42. The ram ismounted for horizontal reciprocating movement on the supporting frame 35which includes cross members 43 in the form of angle irons. The ram isdirectly supported on rolls 44 mounted on the cross-members 43. Aguideway in which the ram reciprocates is formed by angle bars d1 boltedto longitudinal plates 48 (Fig. 1) forming part of the supporting frame.

The latching head 3| includes a plate 49 (Figs. to 13) secured to theforward end of the ram by bolts 5|. The plate 49 is formed with adepending flange 49a to which is bolted an angle bar 50. The latchinghead is designed to be attached to the truck by means of a plurality oflatching levers 53 and 54 secured to a rock shaft 52 extendinglengthwise of the head 3| and mounted for rocking movement in bearingblocks 52a bolted to the angle bar 5i) at opposite ends thereof. Each ofthe latching levers 53 and 511 is formed with a nose 55 or hook toengage beneath the lip 55 of the truck. The latching levers are held inlatching position by means of a locking lever 51 mounted on the head 3|to swing about a pivot 59, one end of the lever 51 projecting over thelatching lever 59 as shown in Figs. 3 and 10.

Means for operating the locking lever 51 includes a rod 59 extendingparallel with the ram and connected at its forward end to the lever 51.The rod is mounted for lengthwise movement with the ram and extendsthrough a stationary bearing lug 6I (Fig. 3). An Outrigger S2 (Fig. 5)attached to the ram 29 is provided with a tubular bearing B3 throughwhich the rod 59 extends. A coil spring 615| mounted on the rod 59extends through the bearing 63 and is freely slideable therein togetherwith the rod 59. A head 65 on the rod, forms an abutment for the spring.A coil spring 56 (Figs. 3 and 10) is attached at one end to the couplinghead 3| and at its opposite end to the rod 59 and applies a forwardtension to the rod for holding the locking lever 51 in its lockingposition.

When the ram is moved forward and approaches the limit of its forwardmovement, the spring 64 engages the bearing lug 9| so that the continuedmovement of the ram places the spring 84 under compression, causing thespring to exert a rearward pull on the rod 59. The forward pull of thespring G6 is thereby. overcome and the locking lever 51 swung about itspivot into position to release the latching lever 53. When the latter isreleased, a coil spring E1, attached to the lever 54 and held undertension, operates to rock the shaft 52 and latching levers to a tiltedposition (Fig. 13) thereby releasing the coupling head 3| from thetruck. The loaded truck is thus released as the ram completes itsforward movement and may then be withdrawn and replaced by an emptytruck.

The motor 28 has driving connection with the ram through a gear trainincluding speed reduction means 65 and a pinion E9 running in mesh witha rack 1| bolted to the ram and extending lengthwise thereof.

The means for automatically controlling the stopping and starting of themotor 2B and effecting other controls as hereinafter described, includesa limit switch mechanism 12 (Figs. 4 and 8), referred to as theout-limit switch mechanism and comprising out-limit switches LSE, LSSA,and LS5B. These switches are actuated simultaneously when the ramreaches the limit of its outward movement. A limit switch LS1 (Fig. 8)referred to as an in-limit or over-travel switch, is operated to stopthe motor when the ram reaches its innermost position. A limit switchLSG referred to as the first setting switch, operates to stop the motorwhen the truck is in position for receiving the rst stack 25.

The switch mechanism 12 and switches LSG and LS1 have a stationarymounting on one of the angle bars 41. The out-limit switch device 12 isactuated by a cam 15 (Figs. 5 and 6) mounted on the ram at the endthereof remote from the coupling head. As the ram completes its outwardmovement, the cam 15 engages a roll 15 on the switch arm 11 foractuating the out-limit switches as hereinafter described. The in-limitswitch LS1 is actuated in like manner by a cam 18 (Fig. 8) attached tothe ram 29, said cam operating the switch arm 19. The iirst settingswitch LSG is 4actuated by a cam 8| mounted for adjustment lengthwise ofthe ram.

As shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the cam 3| is mounted on a pair ofparallel spaced rails 82 and clamped in adjusted position by a bolt 83extending between said rails. The rails are carried on brackets 84bolted to the ram 29.

A scale bar 85 with graduated markings 86 is` mounted on the bracketsBil for indicating the position to which cam 8| is adjusted. Theposition of adjustment will depend on the width of the strips 22 formingthe stack 25.

Referring to the wiring diagram, Fig. 14, current for operating themotor 28 and the control mechanisms, is supplied from the mains a, b,and c in a three-phase system. The starter for the motor 28 comprises anout starter switch 88 and an in starter switch 89 actuated respectivelyby coils 99 and 9|. The switch 88 when closed, starts the motor in thedirection to move the loaded truck outwardly. The switch 89 when closed,effects moving of the truck inwardly to the loading position, Fig. l.

The controlling devices receive current from the secondary -of atransformer comprising a primary coil 92 and a secondary coil 93. Thecontrol devices include a timer comprising a timer motor TM with a timerclutch magnet coil 94. The timer is known as a reset type timer having atiming cycle which in the present invention is started by the closing ofa limit switch LSB as hereinafter described. A limit vswitch LSB (Fig.l), is actuated by a cam |99 on the conveyor 23 when the latter reachesthe upper limit of its tilting movement.

Relays in the control circuits include a-relay R2 which when the timermotor times out operates to close a circuit controlling the hoistingmotor 2B and starts it in a direction to lower the conveyor 23. A relayR3 operates to set the mechanism for automatic operation, when .theautomatic switch 95 is closed. A push-button stop switch 96 when opened,cuts off current from all of the controls and stops the motor.Pushbutton in switches 91 and 98 are operative to close a circuit forthe motor starter coil 9|, said switches being tied together asindicated at 99 for simultaneous operation. Out push-button switches |0|and |92 are operative in like manner to complete a circuit for thestarter coil 99.

If the truck is at its inner or an intermediate position, the motor maybe started to move the truck outwardly by pressing the out pushbutton|0|. This completes a circuit for the motor starter coil 9|) .whichcircuit may be traced from the transformer lead wire through wire |03,coil 90, out-limit switch LS5, wire |04, switches |0|, 91, wire |05 andswitch 96,. The starter coil being thusenergized, closes the switch 88,so that the motor 28 is started and moves the truck outwardly. As theram reaches its outward limit of movement, the out-limit switch LS isopened, thereby causing the switch 88: to open and stop, the motor. Thetruck, if loaded, may be disconnected from the ram and replaced by anempty truck. .Assuming` theY ram with an attached empty truck be at theoutward position, automatic operation is initiated by closing theautomatic switch 95 and momentarily depressing the in push-.button 91('or 9.8). Closing of the switch 95 actuates the relayv R3. Depressingthe push button 91 completes a circuity for the in starting coil 9|,said circuit extending from main I through wires |03, |08, coil 9|,wire. |09, limit switches LSB, LS1, switches 90, |02. and wire |05.. Thetilting conveyor limit switch LS8 shown open in the circuit just traced,is only closed while the tilting conveyoris at the upper limit of itstilting movement, so that the ram motor 28 can only run in the directionto move the truck` inwardly while the conveyor remains in said elevatedposition.

The circuit for the motor starter coill 9| being closed as described,the motor switch 89 is closed and the motor is started in the indirection.`

The closing of the switch 89 completes a holding circuit for the coil 9|independently of the push button. Thisholding circuit extends from themain through wires |03, |08, coil 9|, wire |09, limit switches LS8, LS1,LSB, wire-i I8, relay contact bar |06, wire contact bar H4 on switch 89,and wire I5' to main 2.

The motor runs in the in direction until the truck reaches its positionfor receiving the rst stack of sheets, at which time the iirst settingswitch LSB opens and stops the motor. The motor 28 remainsV at restwhile the iirst tier 2 5 is being built. f

As the elevating conveyor 23 reaches the upper limit of its movement anda tier 25 has been completed, the limit switch LSB is automaticallyclosed. This completes a circuit for the timer clutch coil 94 whichcircuit extends from main through the clutch coil, limit switch LSB,wire IIB, contact |01 of relay R3, wire ||1, switch 91 and wire |05. Thetimer' clutch` coil is thus energized and operates to close the contactsTM| and TM3. The closing of the contacts TMS completes a circuit for themotor starter coil 90, said circuit extending from main through wire|03, coil 00, limit switch LS5, timer contacts TM3, Wires ||8, H6, relaycontact |01, wire ||1, switch 91, and wire |05. The coil 90 beingenergized, closes switch 88 and starts the motor 28 to move the truckoutwardly. The closing of the contacts TM| completes the circuit for thetimer motor in parallel with the clutch coil 94 so that the timer motoris started.

When the timer motor times out, the contacts TM and TMS are opened sothat the motor 28 and the timer are stopped. As the contacts TM| and TMBare opened, the contacts TMZ are closed, thereby completing a circuitfor the relay R2. This circuit extends from main through wire |03, coilof relay R2, contacts TM2, wires H8, ||6, contact bar |01, wire ||1,switch 91, and Wire |05. The relay R2 being energized moves its contactbar |20 into closed position, thereby completing' a circuit controllingthe hoisting motor 26 and starting it in a direction to lower thestarting conveyor 23. The starting conveyor, when it reaches its loweredposition, starts to build the next succeeding tier or stack, and as thestack is completed and the conveyor reaches its elevated position, itagain closes the limit switch LSB for again moving the truck forwardunder the control of the timer. These operationsv are repeated until thetruck is fully loaded and v. cn

-a circuit for the relay R4 which thereby lifts its contactbar |2| andopens the circuit of the motor which drives the elevating conveyor 23and thereby prevents starting of the conveyor when it. reaches itslowered position after the truck has been loaded and has reached its outposition. Before the truck is fully loaded, the contact bar |2| remainsclosedpermitting the continued op-A eration for building successivetiers 25.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of ourinvention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for moving a truck, comprising a motor, a ram mounted forlengthwise reciprocating movement, gearing connecting the motor to theram, means for coupling theram to the truck, said coupling meanscomprising a latching lever pivotally connected to the ram and formedwith a hook to engage the' truck, and automatic means actuated by themovement of the ram for controlling the pivotal movement of said leverand releasing it from the truck.

2. Apparatus for moving a truck, comprising a motor, a ram mounted forlengthwise reciprocating movement, gearing connecting the motor to theram, means for coupling the ram to the truck, said coupling meanscomprising a latching lever pivotally connected to the ram and formedwith a hook to engage the truck, a locking lever ccnnected to the ramand mounted for movement to and from a locking position in which itholds said latching lever in latchingposition, and means operated bythemovement of the ram to move said locking lever out of locking position:and thereby releasing said latching lever.

3. Means for shifting a truck, comprising a motor, a ram mounted forreciprocating movement, gearing providing a driving connection betweenthe motor and ram, a coupling head connected to the forward end of theram, a rock shaft mounted on said head, a latching lever connected tothe rock shaft and adapted for latching engagement with the truck, andautomatic means for rocking said shaft andthe latching lever to a truckreleasing position as the ram completes its forward movement.

4. Means for shifting a truck, comprising a motor, a ram mounted forreciprocating movement, gearing providing a driving connection betweenthe motor and ram, a coupling head connected to the forward end of theram, a rock shaft mounted on said head, a latching lever connected tothe rock shaft and adapted for latching engagement with the truck, alocking device mounted on said coupling head and movable thereon intoand out of a locking position for holding the said latching lever inlatching position, means operated by the forward movement of the ram tomove said locking device out of locking position, and means for rockingsaid shaft to release the latching lever from the truck.

5. Apparatus for shifting a truck, comprising an electric motor `havinga stationary mounting, a ram mounted for lengthwise reciprocatingmovement, a rack attached to the ram, and extending lengthwise thereof,a pinion geared to the motor and running in mesh with said rack. acoupling head attached to the forward end of the ram, a rock shaftjournalled in said head for rocking movement and extending horizontallytransversely of the ram, latching levers attached to said rock shaft, alocking device for holding the said levers in latching position with thetruck coupled thereby to the ram, automatic means for releasing saidlocking device as the ram completes its forward movement, and springmeans for swinging the rock shaft and latching levers to release themfrom the truck when said locking device is moved to released position`6. The combination of a ram mounted for horizontal reciprocatingmovement in the direction of its length, a motor geared to the ram, acoupling head attached to the forward end of the ram, a rock shaftjournalled in said head, a latching lever fixed to the rock shaft forswinging movement into and out of an operative position for connecting atruck to the ram, a locking lever pivoted to the coupling head forpivotal movement into and out of position to lock said latching lever inits operative position, a rod attached to the locking lever andextending parallel lengthwise of the ram, a coil spring connectedbetween said rod and the coupling head and operative to swing thelocking lever into locking position, a second coil spring mounted onsaid rod, a stop device in 'the path of said second spring in positionto engage the spring as the ram approaches its forward movement andoperative to yieldingly oppose the forward movement of said rod andthereby overcome the tension of said iirst-mentioned spring and move thelocking lever to a released position.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 including electrical controlmechanism for controlling the operations of the motor, said controlmechanism including outer and inner limit switches, means forautomatically actuating said switches when the truck reaches its outerand inner limits of movement respectively, means controlled. byll thelimit switches for stopping the motor, means ing the electric motor andcausing it to recip-v rocate the ram while the motor remains stationary,a coupling device connected to the ram and releasably connected to thetruck for moving the truck with the ram, and automatic means operated bymovement of the ram for releasing the coupling device from the truckwhen the ram reaches a predetermined position in its horizontalreciprocating movement.

9. The combination with a truck, of a motor having a stationarymounting, a ram geared to the motor and mounted for horizontal,lengthwise reciprocating movement, means for intermittently causing theoperation of the motor 'at predetermined intervals and thereby causingthe truck to be reciprocated step-by-step into predetermined positions,a coupling device con-' nected to the ram and connected to the truck formoving the truck with the ram, and automatic means for releasing thecoupling device from the truck when the ram reaches a predeterminedposition.

GEORGE OFFU'IT. WILLIAM M. BRINER.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,389,244 Free Aug. 30, 1921 1,712,334- Durbin et al May 7,1929 1,945,905 Kimball Feb. 6, 1934 2,395,716 Biedess Feb. 26, 19462,473,109 Schneider June 14, 1949 2,477,830 Sandberg Aug. 2, 1949

